’98 a big year
for TV, film

However, Hawaii's film
and TV production this year has
hit the skids compared
to last year

By Tim Ryan
Star-Bulletin

Revenues from television and film production in Hawaii last year jumped 39 percent from the year before to an all-time high of $99.1 million, thanks mainly to two TV series filmed here.

TV series, which traditionally make up the largest portion of the state's production revenues, accounted for more than 30 percent of the record total. A television series spends an enormous amount of money for production costs, typically $1.2 million to $1.5 million for each episode.

The total is based on Star-Bulletin figures compiled over the year. The state is expected to release the official numbers later this month.

The "Fantasy Island" and "Wind on Water" series, filmed on Oahu and the Big Island, respectively, contributed about $20 million, while various other television productions brought in another $10.6 million, for a total of $30.6 million. Both series were canceled.

Feature films in 1998 accounted for about $12 million; and commercials, another $5.8 million.

Television coverage of sporting events, in-house corporate filming and other such productions accounted for the remainder of the revenues.

The 1998 total outdistanced the previous high, set in 1994, of $96.5 million, of which $35 million came from the "Waterworld" film production on the Big Island. Hawaii also had three television series that year: "Byrds of Paradise," "One West Waikiki" and "Marker."

Hawaii's film and TV production this year has been very slow compared to 1998. The only promising sign has been the television series "Baywatch," which has been considering relocating here.

That production would spend about $17 million a year, but the possibility of relocating to Hawaii is quickly deteriorating.

"Baywatch" producers reportedly learned last week from news accounts that Local 399 of the Teamsters union in Hollywood is unwilling to make concessions on wages and other benefits to help the show relocate to Oahu. The union supplies drivers for productions.

The union's stand is a deal breaker for Hawaii, and the show's producers are poised to relocate to Australia, sources said.

At stake for Hawaii is a guaranteed 44 episodes over two seasons, at a cost of about $34.5 million, or $785,000 an episode.

Leo Reed, who heads Teamsters Local 399, said "Baywatch" has asked the union for about a 30 percent cut of the transportation budget, which for television accounts for about 10 percent of a show's total budget.

The "Baywatch" transportation budget should be about $79,000 an episode, but producers have offered about $57,000 an episode, Reed said.

"I have 3,600 members in California, and all their eyes are watching what I do on this deal," Reed said. "I have 17 guys in Hawaii who might get hired for the show, and I guarantee if I sign this agreement, in a few weeks they would be (mad) at me because they're working for such a low rate.

"And the 60 guys in Hawaii not hired would be angered at me for agreeing. My members in California would think I gave the concession because I'm from Hawaii and just trying to help my home state."

In other production news, the low-budget, independent film "Johnny Tsunami," starring Kauai resident Cary Tagawa, begins four days of filming on the North Shore on Monday.

The picture also stars Mary Page Keller, Yuji Okomoto and Brandon Baker. Its producer is Gerry Olson, who last year produced the "Wind on Water" television pilot.

The surfing-themed production will film along a stretch of beach between Sunset Beach and Waimea Bay. Oahu resident Brian Keaulana is the water safety coordinator.